Sky News Australia to Rebrand as News24 in Major Overhaul — But Name Change May Spark Confusion
Sky News Australia will become News24 later this year, marking a dramatic shift for the country’s first 24-hour news channel as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The title News24 closely echoes the ABC’s former standalone rolling news channel ABC News 24, which launched in 2010. While the public broadcaster rebranded the service to ABC News in 2017, it remains on free-to-air channel 24 across much of Australia and is still widely referred to by audiences as News 24.
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Complicating matters further, the ABC holds the trademark for “ABC News 2024”, with registration set through to 2030.
For Sky News Australia, the removal of “Australia” is a striking pivot. The network has long positioned itself as a distinctly national voice. The streamlined branding appears aimed at strengthening its appeal beyond local borders — particularly across digital and social platforms where geographic identifiers can limit international reach.
Sky News Australia will rebrand as News24 in a sweeping overhaul designed to position the network as a digital-first global news brand. (image – Sky News)
Still, the optics are hard to ignore. For a channel whose prime-time After Dark lineup frequently champions Australian identity, the decision to retire “Australia” from the masthead is a move its own commentators would be unlikely to accept from any other Aussie brand.
According to the company, the rebrand reflects its evolution from a traditional linear television service into what it describes as a digital-first, multiplatform news business with a growing international audience.
The new name also aligns the channel more directly with News Corp’s global branding.
The News24 logo incorporates the company’s signature script, drawn from the handwriting of Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch and his father, Sir Keith Murdoch. The business said the branding creates a visible link to the heritage of News Corp, which began as a newspaper in Adelaide and expanded into a global media company under the leadership of Global Chair Lachlan Murdoch.
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Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer of Sky News Australia, said the change marks the next chapter in the network’s history.
“Thirty years ago Sky News Australia revolutionised the way we watched the news – launching the nation’s first 24-hour news channel and setting a new standard for live television reporting.
“As we celebrate the official opening of our new world-class broadcast centre and studios we are evolving again. Today, we announced a new name for the future of our network that embraces the proud heritage and editorial credentials of News Corp.
“While our name is changing, our brand of news isn’t. We will continue to break the stories that matter to Australians, champion open debate and provide space for all sides of every discussion. The launch of News24 unlocks the opportunity to take our news, analysis, and opinion programming to larger audiences in more markets.”
The rebrand completes the channel’s integration within News Corp Australia, following its acquisition of Australian News Channel (ANC) in 2016.
Prime Minister and NSW Premier Launch New Sydney Broadcast Hub
The identity overhaul was revealed as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns officially opened News Corp Australia’s new broadcast centre at its Surry Hills headquarters.
The state-of-the-art facility brings Sky News Australia’s operations under the same roof as News Corp Australia’s publishing brands, forming one of the country’s largest multimedia journalism hubs.
The new identity was unveiled alongside the opening of News Corp Australia’s state-of-the-art Sydney broadcast centre. (image – Sky News)
More than 1,500 hours of content are delivered each week across broadcast and digital platforms from the new centre, which features eight studios, six control rooms, expanded edit suites and voiceover booths, a large newsroom and new asset management systems.
The move marks the network’s third Sydney home, following its original studios at Frenchs Forest in 1996 and its tenure at the Foxtel broadcast centre from 2006.
Mr Whittaker described the relocation as the largest transformation project in the network’s history.
“Twelve months ago we embarked on the largest transformation project in our 30-year history – to design and build a new broadcast centre and bring our Sydney operations under one roof at News Corp Australia’s headquarters.
“This new facility sets us up to deliver on our next phase of growth, expanding our commitment to Australian journalism while taking our offering to larger audiences in more markets.”
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News Corp Australasia Executive Chairman Michael Miller said the new studio represented more than infrastructure.
“This studio isn’t simply about broadcasting. It’s about connection, collaboration and the relentless pursuit of stories that inform, challenge and inspire.”
Under the new identity, News24 will transition across existing broadcast and streaming platforms including Foxtel, BINGE, regional free-to-air television, FAST channels on connected TVs, podcasts, Facebook, YouTube, and as an audio stream on DAB+ radio in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It will also be available in New Zealand via Sky Television, alongside a new website and app at News24.com.au.
Sky News Australia will rebrand to News24 later in 2026, with the new service rolling out across Foxtel, BINGE, regional free-to-air television and digital platforms as the network marks 30 years since launching on 19 February 1996.
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